Multiple speed drive system



Dec. 18, 1956 A. H. DE Moss 2,7 74,2148

MULTIPLE SPEED DRIVE SYSTEM Filed May '7. 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 18,1956 A. H. DE Mossv MULTIPLE SPEED DRIVE SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMay 7. 1953 Dec. 18, 1956 A. H. DE Moss MULTIPLE SPEED DRIVE SYSTEM 5Sheeis-Sheet 5 Filed May 7, 1953 Dec. 18, 1956 A. H. DE Moss MULTIPLESPEED DRIVE SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet-4 Filed May 7. 1953 Dec. 18, 1956 A.H. DE Moss 2,774,248

MULTIPLE SPEED DRIVE SYSTEM Filed May 7. 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 "QZ/www1@1 United States Patent j MULTIPLE SPEED DRIVE SYSTEM Albert H. De Moss,Milwaukee, Wis. Application May 7, 1953, Serial No. 353,490v A 12Claims. (Cl. 74-217) VMy invention relates to a multiple speed drivesystem wherein a single speed drive element imparts selective multiplespeeds to a driven element.

This application is a division of my copending application for CleaningMachine and Method of Cleaning, Serial No. 165,330, tiled May 3l, 1950.

The system of my invention has utility in numerous applications, and ithas been found particularly satisfactory for use in domestic laundrymachines. It is here illustrated and described as applied to Stich amachine.

' One object of my invention is to provide a multiple speed drive systemcomprising a combination of individual components which can be massproduced and easily assembled at extremely low cost compared withcomparable systems heretofore known.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple speed drivesystem which is characterized by the facility with which the speed ofthe driven element may be changed from one speed to another.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple speed drivesystem which includes a mechanical timer device, driven from acontinuously moving part of the system, and means responsive to suchdevice for effecting speed changes automatically in predetermined timesequence.

Another object is to provide a system of this character which can beexpected to have a long useful life substantially free of difficultmaintenance problems.

Still another object of the invention, and one particularly related tothe laundry machine application, is to provide a multiple speed drivesystem which can be satisfactorily powdered with a small and inexpensivemotor, compared with motors heretofore considered necessary for laundrymachines of comparable size and type. Such machines utilize a containerrotatable in one direction at two different speeds, a low speed forwashing and a high speed for extracting by centrifugal action. Thepresent drive system has inertia members which function to reduce thepower necessary to accelerate from low speed to high speed, therebyreducing the power requirements imposed on the motor.`

`Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple speed drivesystem which utilizes a plurality of pulleys, belts andsimple clutches,all low cost, mass produceable elements. Expensive gears, clutches andcarefully machined parts, other than simple bearings, are whollyeliminated.

Other objects, advantages and details of the invention will appear asthe description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate the drive system embodied in a laundrymachine. vIt is to beunderstood, however, that the description anddrawings are illustrative only and are not to be taken as limiting theinvention except insofar as it is limited by the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of a laundry machine embodying thedriven system of my invention, the back panel of the machine beingremoved; Y

2,774,248 i Patented Dec. 18, 1956 Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional viewthrough the machiner on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is asectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing a mechanicaltimer device;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 5

Fig.' 7 is in part an elevational view and in part a sectional View online 7-7 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional View on line 8 8 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to Figs. 1-3 of the drawings, the laundry machine in whichI have chosen to illustrate the invention vincludes a rotatablecontainer 10 (Fig. 2) mounted in' a suitable frame 11. The drive systemhas a driven shaft 12 which is connected at'13 to container 10 and whichVis suitably journalled in a bearing 14 carried on frame 11.

A source of power such as electric motor 15 is mounted in the'lowerportion of frame 11. Motor 15, which may be of the split-phase type,powers a shaft 16 which is here called the drive shaft of the system.

Drive shaft 16 is journalled in and carried by supports 17-17 which arepivoted as shown lat 18 (Fig. 1) to frame 11. The purpose of thispivoted arrangement will4 friction clutch such as generally designated21 and bestv shown in Fig. 7.

l Referring to Fig. 7, clutch 21 includes a collar 23 fixed to shaft 16on one side of pulley 20. A generally similar collar 24 is carried onshaft 16 on the other side of pulley 20, but this collar is not fixed tothe shaft. A third collar 25, fixed to shaft 16, is positioned adjacentcollar 24, and a compressed spring 26 extends between the two collars 24and Z5. Spring 26, of course, establishes a frictional relationshipbetween the two faces of pulley 20 and the collars 23 and 24. Undernormal conditions, friction between the faces of pulley 20 and therespective collars 23 and 24 will canse the pulley to be driven by shaft16.l However, should an abnormal, harmful load be placed on pulley 20,the clutch will slip so that such load is not transmitted to motor 15.

Driven shaft 12, previously mentioned, is spaced from drive shaft 16 andis generally parallel therewith. A high speed pulley 30 having a hub 31(Fig. 4) and a low speed pulley 33 having a hub 34 are journalled ondriven shaft 12. These two pulleys continuously rotate -tion 35 by meansof a collar 37 which is keyed to the K. shaft by a pin 38. The exteriorlsurface of collar 37 is substantially flush with the exterior surfaceof the adja cent hub 34 `as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

Hub 31 of high speed pulley 30 and the adjacent unreduced portion ofdriven shaft 12 comprise two elements of a high speed spring clutch, thethird element of which is an overrunning clutch spring 40 which looselysurrounds hub 31 :and the adjacent portion of driven shaft 12. One endof spring 40 is outwardly bent as shown in Fig. 2 in such a way as toprovide a projection 41. This projection cooperates with an actuator,later to be described, for controlling clutch action. The actuator when.in oneY position.. holds the projection 41 :and spring 40 3 againstrotation, and in anotherposition it is withdrawntowpei'rhitht'hwspriiig'"to 'rotatewithhub31.v Wleiiwtliei actuator isin withdrawn position, the friction between reist-ine heb. 3l. en@spring 4.9. Siiteieet te.. sense.: a tightening'of the springconvolutions with the resultthgt. the .Seite tightly eine tete. heb etarte @risen stan. t2. Thus, hub`4 31 dives shaft `12 through spring 40.vWhen, the actlattitpeeitieaee te engage. nreieetien 41I .and RteefffftQi. Serine 4.9, 'the eating. .eenvehitiene will tend to `unwind,thereby/releasing the clutch'and lirealtieettle driyeieeeeeetien A moreor less similar spring clutch is provided between, lew-eneedpnllev331.211@ drivenetlattll- Anoverruiiping clutch spring @surrounds hublilgancladjacent col-lar'j, 011e ene et Spring i3-.raar .beinnardlvfbent as shown/at @rendireeeived withnen opening formed. in hub34, or Sritngrl; may, be mounted. loosely beth-on hub Stand @ller 1.11either. event Springit. connects collar 3.7 andhub 34; in driyingrelationif thecol-lar is not rotating at greater speed than hub 34. Whencollar, 37 rotates ere/iterv Speed than heb4 3ft, the. case` when. thehigh` speed clutch is engaged, friction between collarA 37 and spring 43. merely tends to unwind and enlarge the spring so,tha t,the latter isoverrun by thefaster, turning collar.

Pulleys 3i! and 33, as mentioned, both aredrivenhontinuously with highspeedpulley 3.0 rotatingrfaster. than low speed pulley 33. When highspeed clutch spring 40 is held out of engagement by its. actuator, shaft12 is driven. at lowspeed by low speedpulley through spring' 43. In thiscircumstance high speed hub 31 and driven shaft 12 both overrun spring49. Alternatively, when the high speed clutch spring 4G is allowed:bylthe actuator. to, engageshaft 1.2V and hub 31, shaft'lZ. is driven`athigh' speedv by high speed pulley 3,0. and; shaft collar 37 overrunsclutch spring 43. l

Referring again to Fig. l, the drive system includes anlin'termediatehigh speed pulley 45 and an intermediate low-speed pulley 46, lthe, twovpulleys being gangedto rotateytogether. Pulleys 45 and 46 are carried onan intermediate shaft 48 which in furnis supported-by arm 49.pivotedat'50 to frame 1.1. The purpose of pivotally supporting intermediateshaft 4,3, as well` as drive shaft 16'. previously mentioned, willpresently be set forth` A high speed belt 52 connects drive pulley 20,inter mediate high speed pulley" 45 and high speed= pulley 3Q, while alow speed belt 53 'connects intermediate low speed pulley 46 andlowspeedpulley 3. Y

Rememberingithat drive shaft` 1-6 is pivotall-y supported at 18 withrespect to frame 11, it will' be noted that the weight of drive shaft16, pulley 2 0 and, in the example shown, motor 15 develops a forcewhich :applies tension to high speed belt 52, therebyautomatically/insuring its proper relation with its respective pulleys.Similarly, the pivotal mounting of intermediate shaft 48 with respect toframe 11 enables the Weight of shaft 48 and pulleys 45 and 46-tocooperate with the tension of belt l52 and thereby apply an independenttension on low speed belt y53'. If'- additional tension on belt 53 isrequired," a spring 54 extending between'arm 49 and a point on frame t1may be provided. Thus, both belts are maintained"Y underproper'ltension, and the relationship is not disturbed by different beltcharacteristics since the respective tension forces are substantiallyindependent of eachother.

-Drive pulley 29, intermediate high speed 'pulley 45, high speed pulley3@ and its v'associatedclutch'spring 4t) thus comprise a continuouslyrotating high speed drive between drive and driven shafts 16 and 12.Similarly, pulleyfZt), intermediate pulleys 45 and 46, low speed pulley3ft 'and associated clutch spring 43, comprise a contiriuously. rotatinglow speed drive between the two shafts. Selective.A variation betweenthe two, drives is accomplished by means of the previously brieflymentioned actuator which engages and disengages projection 41 of highspeed clutch spring 40. Y

The; actnatormay talte the. form of. a ngermengheror.

later. Billete@ at. tre a Peint. en 1.1. Mere: ment of lever 55 in onedirection positions one end thereof to engage projection 41 of highspeed clutch spring 40, while movement in the other direction withdrawsthe end out of engagement with the projection.

Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 illustrate a suggested means for moving lever 55according to. predetermined time sequence. A timer device,"genr'allydesignated 60 (Figs. 3 and 5),is .mounted in frame 115i The deviceincludes a rotatable cam shaft 6 1, to which is lteyedl a. speed changecam 62. Lever'SScarries a carri follower '63 (Fig. 1) which engages..earn .6;2... The shape otcamog, is such as to impart the(A desiredmovement to follower 63 and lever 55 as the carn- '1'ot`ate`s,x "therebychanging from one driven speed to another according to predeterminedtime sequence.

Any suitable meansmay be employed for rotating cam shafti61, and as hereillstratedg'theshaft is drivenvfrorn some moving part o'f/theldrive'systin by means of a' pavvl and ratchet arrangement. f"

Referring to'. Figs.H 5l and 6, a ratchet 65 is keyed to shaft61'.v i Asecondfratchet 66, of somewhat'larger'diamJ eter than ratchet l65, lisvmounted on shaft 61 adjacent ratehe't'fes:puentenet 66 isV not keyed tothe shaft. R'atlier, itis frictionallyrelated to shaft 61. An arm 68Yis'joiirnalled on' shaft'i`61, the vfree endof the 'armbeiiigprovidedlwithf'bos's 69. A pawl 70, biased by a spring 71,'isrriountedfonboss 69, and it engages the toothed peripherfoffiihkeyedlarger ratchet 6 6'. yArm 68 moves b'a/lt and forth 1"through a" short"arc by means presently t'be des`cribd; and'pawl M is effective torotateratchet 66W inZ a step by step'Y manner. Y

O'iefof =the 'teethfnamely tooth 73, (Fig. 6), of ratchet 66 is deeperthan the'ot'he'rs", and when pawl 70 enters this tooth/as it does onceIper revolution of ratchet 66, the Danses. e Peripheral, teeth ef fetchet6.5. thereby at l "et"faridfassg'ia ted earn shaft 6 1 throughThi'sfrarrarigement provides" a4 desired'isp'eed' reuilction between'thetwo ratchets and imparts a speed tofs aftfl which is' 'sensible for thetiming required *in a`lauridr'y machine of the type'illustrated.

P awl arm 68`^ is moved back and forth by means of a Pitmanrod'754connected between it and anecc'entric 76 (FigS) 'frmedforione end of lowspeed hub 3,4 between" the, two pnlley's'Blland 3,3, Movement of pitmanlrod 75 imparts thei'aforesaid back and forth movement to arm The driyeSystem thus is provided with an integral tinier 'devic'e'whiich'is'driven from a` moving part of the syst mfthereby'eliminating the` needfor an` independent sourceoftin power.

UFrom]the'abov'efdescription itl is thought that the conl st rtitiona'ndf advantages "of inveiitio'r'iJ will 'bef'radily appa-rent. to thoseskilled' inr the art. Various changes in detail may. be rii'ade`ivithout departing from the spirit or losing theadvantagesfoftheinvention'.

tliu's'des'c ibed my invention, what I claim as; new`and`desir`e tosecu'r'eby Letters Eatent is: i

l.. A multiple speed drive system' comprising a rotatable difivefshaft,adrive pulleiI lbllirna'lled on said drivev shaft, a; spring'biasiedfriction clutch' connecting Ysaid pillley with said shaft, aV rotatable,driven shaft parallel te. ansi.. Sraeed tem. Seid, drive Shaft, a. highSpeednulley. and a low speed pulley journalled on said driven shaft, aninternrediateshaft parallelA to and spaced from said drive. .and drivenShafts, en intermediate high speed Pulley, and anintermediate lowv speedpulley ganged togetherand carried on said intermediate shaft, a beltconnecting said -drivefnullen Said high Speed pulley and Seid.intermediate meansingoperative relation with said last named spring.

clutch. f

2. A multiple speed drive system comprising a rotatable drive shaft, adlive pulleyon said shaft in driven relation therewith, a rotatabledriven shaft spaced from said drive shaft, a high speed pulley and a lowspeed pulley journalled on said driven shaft, an intermediate shaftspaced from said drive and driven shafts, an intermediate high speedpulley and an intermediate low speed pulley ganged together and carriedon said intermediate shaft, a belt connecting said drive pulley, saidhigh speed pulley and said intermediate high speed pulley, a beltconnecting said low speed pulley and said intermediate low speed pulley,an overrunning spring clutch connecting said low speed pulley with saiddriven shaft, an overrunning spring clutch connecting said high speedpulley with said driven shaft, and control means in operative relationwith said last named spring clutch.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said drive shaft is carried by apivoted support whereby the weight of said shaft applies tension to saidrst named belt and wherein said intermediate shaft is carried by apivoted support whereby the weight of said intermediate shaft andpulleys cooperates with the tension of said first named belt to applytension to said second named belt.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said control means comprises aprojection from one end of Said last named spring clutch and a fingermember movable into and out of engagement with said projection.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said linger member is actuated bya rotatable cam member driven by power derived from said drive shaft. t

6. The combination of claim 2 wherein said control means comprisesmechanism engaging one end of said last named spring clutch to stoprotation thereof and a rotatable cam connected with said mechanism foractuating same, said cam being driven by power derived from said driveshaft.

7. A multiple speed drive system comprising a driven shaft, a pair ofbelt and pulley drives driving said shaft, a rotatable cam timing theoperation of said shaft, means operatively connected to said shaft anddriving said cam, and means operatively connected between said cam andone of said belt and pulley drives alternatively connecting anddisconnecting said one of said belt and pulley drives with respect tosaid shaft.

8. A multiple speed drive system comprising a driven shaft having a pairof pulleys mounted for rotation thereon, an intermediate shaft having apair of pulleys mounted for synchronous rotation thereon, a drive shafthaving a single pulley mounted thereon and driven thereby, a beltspanning said drive pulley and one of the pulleys on said intermediateand said driven shafts, a belt spanning the other of said pulleys onsaid intermediate and said driven shafts, and clutch means connectedbetween said driven shaft and the pulleys mounted thereon.

9. A multiple speed drive system comprising a driven shaft having a pairof pulleys mounted for rotation thereon, an intermediate shaft having apair of pulleys mounted for synchronous rotation thereon, a drive shafthaving a pulley mounted thereon and driven thereby, a belt spanning oneof the pulleys on each of said shafts, a belt spanning a pulley on saidintermediate and said driven shafts, and an overrunning clutchconnecting each of said pulleys on said driven shaft to said drivenshaft.

l0. A multiple speed drive system comprising a driven shaft having apair of pulleys mounted for rotation thereon, means driving said pulleysat different speeds, clutch means connecting said pulleys to said shaft,timing means connected to and driven by one of said pulleys forcontrolling the operation of said shaft, and means connected to saidtiming means and engageable with said clutch means for controlling saidclutch means.

11. A multiple speed drive system comprising a driven shaft having apair of pulleys mounted for rotation thereon; rotary iirst and secondpower driven means driving said pulleys at different speeds andincluding speed reduction means connected to one of said pulleys; firstand second overrunning spring clutches, one being operatively connectedto one of said pulleys, the other being operatively connected to theother of said pulleys, and both being operatively connected to saidshaft; and timer means operatively connected with the clutch connectedwith the higher speed pulley for controlling the function of saidclutch.

12. A multiple speed drive system comprising a driven shaft having apair of pulleys mounted for rotation thereon; rotary first and secondpower driven means driving said pulleys at different speeds andincluding speed reduction means connected to one of said pulleys; rst

and second overrunning clutches, one being operatively connected to oneof said pulleys, the other being operatively connected to the other ofsaid pulleys, and both being operatively connected to said shaft; andcontrol means operatively connected with the clutch connected with thehigher speed pulley for controlling the function of said clutch.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

